Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card and Conservation Administrator Charles Tirone explore the conservation area – Photos by Kenan Cooper |
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By Kevin Vendt, Photos by Kenan Cooper |
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Residents and dignitaries returned to the Maillet, Sommes, Morgan Conservation area on Wednesday to thank the state for its $2,116,578 Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP) grant. According to Senior Planner Andrew McNichol, the grant, which is part of $32.8 million in grants state-wide, is the result of a multi-year and large regional study conducted by Mystic River Watershed Association, Resilient Mystic Collaborative, and its supporting communities. The project’s primary goal is to reduce in-land flooding in Reading and relieve flood pressure on downstream communities by creating offline storage and treatment areas upstream of the Mystic River, the headwaters of which start at the Aberjona River. The grant will also improve trails and enhance access to the conservation area, which is located off Willow Street. |
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Secretary Beth Card, State Senator Jason Lewis, Representative Brad Jones and Representative Richard Haggerty |
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“We are grateful to the Commonwealth for this substantial grant funding,” said Town Manager Fidel Maltez. “The Maillet, Sommes & Morgan Conservation stormwater project will make great strides to reduce flooding for thousands, improve public safety, reduce property loss, and enhance our trails and protect our natural resources.”
Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card conducted a site visit and shared that the project is part of the Baker Administration’s focus on resilience and adaptation in a changing climate. “We are thrilled to continue to invest and support this important program.” Card continued. “The more we create open space like this . . . the more likely [people] are to want to protect and invest in it for generations to come.” Card concluded. [Read More]
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Andrew McNichol, Staff Planner |
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Town Manage Fidel Maltez and Select Board Vice Chair Karen Herrick
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By a vote of 5-0 for twenty-two articles and a vote of 3-2 for one article, the Select Board closed the warrant for the upcoming Subsequent Town Meeting on Tuesday. The warrant includes Article 7, which asks for $2.2 million for a feasibility study and schematic design for the Killam Elementary School project, Article 11, which expands the Board of Health to five members, and Article 16, which asks for funding of the design phase for improvements to the Haven Street streetscape project. Article 23 is a citizen petition requiring downtown businesses to shovel their sidewalks by 9:00 am after a snowstorm.
Select Board members Chris Haley and Carlo Bacci took issue with Article 20, which, if enacted, would create a bylaw banning the use of polystyrene products by local restaurants and food establishments. Haley encouraged a delay on the article until April Town Meeting to allow for the business community to be informed and educated about the ban. He stated that it is telling that the Select Board has received no emails from members of the business community on the matter. During public comment, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Egan also urged the board to wait on the article. Egan cited cost and supply chain issues as factors in her request. “Are alternatives suitable, affordable, available?” Egan asked. [Read More]
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Thursday night, the School Committee voted 5-0 to send the Select Board a warrant article for November Town Meeting which asks Town Meeting to approve $2.2 million for a feasibility study for a proposed Killam Elementary School project. School Committee member Erin Gaffen, while in full support of the project, objected to some of the language in the introduction provided for the warrant report. After some community input, Chair Shawn Brant had included language which, to Gaffen, suggested that the study, and therefore the project, was not focused on district-wide needs as well as facility issues at Killam. “The whole point [of the project] is to address space needs,” Gaffen argued. Gaffen continued by reminding the committee that the original study which led the committee to this point was a district-wide space needs assessment by Gienapp Architects.
While agreeing in concept with Gaffen, Brandt indicated that he wanted the introduction to be as transparent as possible about the possible outcomes of the feasibility study, which may or may not include a larger school building than presently exists on the site. The committee agreed to soften the language in the introduction, and a vote approved the amended introduction 5-0. The Select Board will vote on inclusion of this and the other possible 22 articles on the warrant at its September 20 meeting. [Read More]
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A gathering of Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition communities in Reading, MA |
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Join us for the 2022 Recovery & Remembrance Event at the Reading Town Common located at 16 Lowell Street on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in Reading, Massachusetts. The Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition invites all seven of our communities to celebrate those living in recovery and to remember those loved ones we have not forgotten. Coalitions in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winchester have organized this special event to offer opportunities for networking, learning, and remembering. [Read More]
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Havurah Haverim will once again conduct Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at the Unitarian Church of Reading, located at 239 Woburn Street, Reading, MA
All services are to be held at the Unitarian Church of Reading. Even though we have all been vaccinated, there will still be hand cleaner available.
If you know of anyone or have friends who are looking for services, please invite them to join us.
Rosh Hashanah
Sunday Evening, September 25, 2022
Sanctuary Service (7:30 – 9:30 pm) and Social Hall for coffee and dessert following service.
Monday Morning, September 26, 2022
Sanctuary Service 9:30 am – 12:00 noon
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Saturday, October 1, 2022
10:00 – 2:00 pm
The First Congregational Church of Reading
25 Woburn Street
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Visit our assortment of booths on the First Congregational Church lawn and inside while you are picking up your food order on 1st from 10 AM to 2 PM:
- Baked Goods. Fresh from the oven.
- Jewelry. A wide variety of contemporary and vintage.
- Jigsaw Puzzles. A favorite activity to do together.
- Farm Stand. Treats, notecards, and more.
- Kids activities. Fun for all ages.
- Silent Auction. View items available and place your bid.
- Books. Good reads at a bargain.
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WALK/RUN/RUCK 5K TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HOME BASE
2022 — Fitness Within’s Operation Run to Heal 5k Fitness Within’s Operation Run to Heal 5k. Walk/Run/Ruck 5k to Raise Funds for Home Base. On this day, no one fights alone! Mark your calendars. Fitness Within’s 2022 Operation Run To Heal 5K will be IN-PERSON on Saturday, October 22, at Memorial Park, with an epic after-party beer garden celebration at the Reading Common! raceroster.com
Fitness Within’s 2022 Operation Run To Heal 5K will be IN-PERSON on Saturday, October 22, at Memorial Park, with an epic after-party at the beer garden that will be at the Reading Common! We are thrilled to partner with Home Base and the Town of Reading to create an event that will have a massive impact on our Veterans and their Families. Join our incredible community in this year’s Operation Run To Heal 5K, and together we will be part of something much bigger than ourselves!
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Highlights from the Reading Police & Fire Logs
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